Effects of focal vibration on changes in sports performance in amateur athletes: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a focal vibration protocol added to an activation protocol with active muscle contractions and to see what repercussions it has on sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), and lower limb isometric strength. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Functional Anatomy Laboratory and the sample consisted of 70 athletes. The main outcome measures were knee extension force, CMJ, sprint, and surface electromyography. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant improvements. They were found in the within-group analysis for the Experimental Group in the isometric extension force (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.368), CMJ (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.301) and 30 m sprint (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.376). In the electromyography, there are changes in the Sham Group in all muscles, in CMJ and Sprint tests, and no differences in the Experimental Group, except for the RF muscle. In the between-group analysis, statistically significant differences were found only in favor of the Experimental Group in CMJ (p = 0.017; η2 = 0.81) and 30 m sprint (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.152). These results confirm a significant improvement in the sprint, CMJ performance, and quadriceps strength, after a focal vibration protocol, added to a muscle active contraction, compared to a focal vibration sham protocol. Therefore, our results suggest that the focal vibration can be a very useful tool in sports involving high-powered actions.